HBCU Digest » Sports

Grambling State Brings Appeal to Inaugural Port City Classic

HBCUDigest.com — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 18:23:42 +0000

Interest in the inaugural Port City Football Classic is building as Grambling State University and Louisiana Tech prepare to meet for the first time tomorrow at Independence Stadium in Shreveport beginning at 6:00 p.m. Ticket sales have already exceeded 26,000 for the game, and are expected to increase by 8,000 prior to kickoff. From the Shreveport Times:

GSU reported 15,000 tickets sold and Louisiana Tech reported 11,000 tickets sold with another estimated 8,000 tickets expected to be sold by game day, the news release states.

Tickets also will be available Saturday at Independence Stadium. The ticket office opens at 10 a.m.

Hampton’s Kendall Langford Loses $50K Earring at Dolphins Practice

HBCUDigest.com — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 16:13:58 +0000

Former Hampton University football standout and Miami Dolphins defensive end Kendall Langford lost a 2.5 carat diamond earring at practice on Tuesday, prompting a team search on the practice field and a nationwide lampooning of his wealth and his short-term memory.

SWAC Announces Weekly Volleyball Honors

HBCUDigest.com — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 18:12:37 +0000

The Southwestern Athletic Conference has announced its first weekly award recipients for the 2010 season. Jackson State University’s LaToya Clark and Chyna Coleman and Mississippi Valley State University’s Maura Moed completed a Mississippi sweep of the awards, being named Player of the Week, Defensive Player of the Week and Newcomer of the Week, respectively. From the release:

Clark (S, 5-5, Jr., Tallahassee, Fla.) tallied 140 assists and 52 digs on the weekend, finishing with three double-doubles at the JSU Lady Tiger Invitational. She helped her team to a 2-2 mark at the Invite with wins over University of New Orleans and Louisiana-Monroe.

Moed (MB, 5-10, Sr., San Antonio, Texas) had 15 kills, three blocks and three digs in Valley’s 3-0 sweep of Philander Smith. Against Lyon College, she recorded 12 kills, five blocks and four aces.

Coleman (OH, 5-8, Jr., Phoenix, Ariz.) tallied 54 digs and 50 kills on the weekend, finishing with two double-doubles in four matches. A transfer from Phoenix College, Coleman also registered nine blocks.

Dr. Lonise Bias, Mother of Len Bias, Addresses UDC Athletes

HBCUDigest.com — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 16:00:23 +0000

Dr. Lonise Bias, mother of the legendary University of Maryland forward and NBA lottery pick Len Bias, delivered an address to the University of the District of Columbia’s body of student-athletes last Friday. In her remarks, she challenged the students to maintain the tenets of self-control and self-respect. From the release:

“I came to give you gentle reminders of who you are,” Dr. Bias added. “Get up in the morning and be satisfied with who you are. Stop discounting yourself and find your personal value. Obstacles in life come to build you up. You need to work through your weaknesses in your personal life.”

“Learn to love, appreciate and value yourself,” Dr. Bias said. “Use every opportunity to educate yourself and always reach back to give to someone else. Be careful of who is in your inner circle. Self preservation comes first.”

Dr. Bias is the founder of Abundant Life Resources A More Excellent Way, LLC in Prince Georges County, MD, and is a sought-after motivational speaker. Her son Len died of an infamous cocaine overdose in 1986, and her other son Jay was murdered in a drive-by shooting in 1990.

Hampton’s Ricardo Silva: “We’re Going to Run Through the MEAC”

HBCUDigest.com — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 16:40:05 +0000

As Hampton University prepares to open its 2010 season against Central Michigan, at least one Pirate is approaching the season with great expectations. Senior safety Ricardo Silva opens this HU football preview with two bold predictions, both of which are made within five seconds of each other.

Legacy Bowl Vote Postponed in MEAC, Finance Details Revealed in Letter

HBCUDigest.com — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 13:27:33 +0000

A vote from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference’s executive council will likely be pushed back until the spring of 2011, according to conference Commissioner Dennis Thomas. Additionally, the Times and Democrat has published details of a letter concerning the potential post-season black college bowl game sent from Thomas to South Carolina State University President Dr. George Cooper:

In Thomas’ response, he confirmed the $600,000 guaranteed payment the MEAC would receive and share among its members for sending the regular-season champion to face the SWAC champion on Dec. 17, 2011, in Atlanta.

Thomas also indicated the representing school at the Legacy Bowl would have to use portions of the guaranteed money to cover all team, band and cheerleader expenses, but that does not prohibit negotiating with other sponsors to offset costs.

Thomas also told Dr. Cooper that at-large berths in the FCS playoffs would still be available to the MEAC, but in recent years, these berths have largely been exclusive to the conference champion.

Freshman Anthony Carrothers Named Grambling Starting QB

HBCUDigest.com — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 13:02:48 +0000

After a pre-season of controversy, health concerns and questions, Grambling State University will open its season against Louisiana Tech with at least one answer. Freshman Anthony Carrothers will be the team’s starting quarterback.

With Greg Dillon losing an appeal for a sixth season of NCAA eligibility and the playing status of star defensive end Christian Anthony still very much in doubt, questions about the unknown were frequent throughout training camp. But Broadway says Carrothers’ playmaking ability will suit the Tigers well in the Port City Classic and beyond. From the Shreveport Times:

Carrothers threw for 4,028 yards and 36 touchdowns for Independence High (Charlotte, N.C.) last year. He finished high school with 10,775 passing yards, second in Mecklenburg County and state history behind former University of Florida quarterback Chris Leak.

“He’s going to be an outstanding college football player,” said Broadway, who also plans to play more than just Carrothers against the Bulldogs on Saturday. “He understands the game; how to play the game.”

Winston-Salem State Rolls in CIAA Reintroduction

HBCUDigest.com — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 17:04:20 +0000

Casting aside, at least for an afternoon, any doubts about Winston-Salem State University’s chances in returning to the CIAA, the Rams routed Virginia Union University 47-13 in High Point, NC last Saturday. Win number one for new WSSU head coach Connell Maynor, and the Rams’ first win in the inaugural Furniture City Gridiron Classic created a familiar feeling for Ram faithful seeking a high note after a transitory off-season. From the Winston-Salem Journal:

The Rams, who were 1-10 last season, came out on fire, scoring on their first two possessions. They scored on five of six possessions in the half, rolling to a 27-0 lead. The 27 points scored in the first half were more than the Rams scored in any game last season.

Quarterback Octavious Hawkins, making his first start after spending three seasons at UMass, was 18 of 23 passing for 207 yards with two touchdowns and the offense had no turnovers.

For a team that averaged 121/2 points a game last season, it was quite a reversal.

Offensive lineman Travis Taylor, one of the many returning players, said he sensed in the first series that the Rams would dominate.

Winston-Salem State held Virginia Union to 278 yards of total offense and forced four lost fumbles. The Panthers did not score until late in the third quarter.

Former Winston-Salem State Football Coach Embraces New Role

HBCUDigest.com — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 20:34:15 +0000

Kermit Blount lead the Winston-Salem State University football team for seventeen years, built CIAA championship teams, and saw the program make an attempt to move up to Division I. But his work was cut short earlier this year, when WSSU athletic director Billy Hayes reassigned Blount within the program.

But Blount isn’t complaining. From the Winston-Salem Journal:

“I’ve had my nose down there on the sidelines for a long time,” he said. “In some ways, it’s been good to experience how it is on the other side. And for me, after doing it so long, you get caught up in it maybe a little too much. But I’ll be OK.”

Blount said that there have been some awkward moments around the football offices, but his new office is at the Gaines Center, not at the Bowman Gray Field House. He has made it a point to stay away from practice and out of the way of Maynor and his staff.

“I know as a coach you want to limit distractions, and I don’t want to be any type of distraction for those guys,” Blount said.

UMES Volleyball Players Dismissed From Team, Charged With Theft

HBCUDigest.com — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 12:14:48 +0000

Four volleyball players from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore have been dismissed from from the team, possibly stemming from a failed shoplifting attempt at a local Wal-Mart. Victoria Williams, Bella Jade Romero, Christine Edwards and Ardella Morris are not listed on the team’s 2010 roster and are revealed in public records to have been charged with theft and conspiracy of theft less than $100. From the Daily Times:

Mark Stephenson, the Fruitland Police Department’s criminal investigations administrator, said a police report stated that the women allegedly took an assortment of items, including clothing and an iPod iHome docking station. They were stopped by store security while trying to leave. All of the items were recovered.

Edwards and Romero are members of the 2010 pre-season all-conference volleyball team, and are the MEAC’s last two Rookies of the Year.